I am considering driving my T/A to Carlisle this July but I am leery of staying at hotels. If I do it I will bring a chase truck, if you will, in case it breaks, and as a "mobile storage unit. The reason I am inquiring is to find out if it would be feasible to possibly hook up with members along the way to caravan and possibly have secure stops along the way. I don't know if that means parking in someone's shop at a stop, or even staying at somebodies place for a night. This might be totally inappropriate, I'm not sure as I don't know you and you don't know me, but I'm trying to put myself on the map and find out if this is even feasible. I live in Washington state and it is a long ways to go, but it is a dream to do this. After reading about vehicles being stolen I have some trepidation, but I really want to do this! Do you think I need to put the hooka down, or is this something that I (or in that case we) could make happen. Just throwing this out there to put myself on the map, to possibly network, and to find out what you guys think. Thoughts or suggestions are truly appreciated and welcome! Thanks so much, John

Sounds like a dream trip!!! Not sure what route you will be taking to get to Carlisle, but if your path takes you close to Cincinnati I can offer you a place to stay and a secure garage. Good Luck. Larry

thank you so much Larry, I'm not sure of my route yet either, I've only ever been as far as Minnesota. I may take you up, I will definitely keep in touch, as I figure this out. Thanks brother! John

One thing I've learned from being into Mopars for close to 50 years now, is that the Mopar world really is a SMALL world. It amazes me how we seem to all know each other, or know OF each other. Yes, sometimes for better or for worse... But you will find there are more people who are willing to accommodate helping make your dream trip become a reality than you might believe. I know if I was on your route I'd sure do that. There was a time when I lived in Iowa that would have been a possibility. You've chosen a great place to start--here on Moparts. Be sure to document your trip in photos please! And then post your adventure here--all the great folks you meet, the places you stay, some of the crazy sights you might see along the way. Sounds like it could be the trip (adventure?!) of a lifetime. Good luck, and hope you have great success! And if you're ever down North Carolina way look us up! All the best!

If you are in the Rockford, IL area off of I-90 Tuesday then you can park your car in my shop. I usually leave Wednesday for Carlisle but take a longer route to avoid the extortion on the Indiana, Ohio, and PA turnpikes if you want to follow along afterwards.

If it were me I'd avoid staying in big cities. Make the hotel the only stop in the area, in other words don't stop for dinner at the diner across the street from the hotel, Bring a car cover and cover it immediately upon arrival. If there are rooms at the back of the hotel, take one of those so the car is as out of sight as possible. Consider something to disable the car each night - like removing the battery. Just consider your options and you should be fine. Personally I think a car standing on its own is far safer than one all loaded up on a truck and trailer just screaming "steal me". The worst I ever had happen years ago was someone stole my tire valve caps !!

I drive my '65 Dodge fairly often, and have left it outside at hotels around Maryland, PA, and Delaware in the past without issue. I usually try to choose rooms where I can walk right to my car from the room. I always back into the parking spot, and have numerous anti theft "plans" in place to disable the vehicle.

In all honesty, I know you want the experience of driving your vehicle there, but if you're going to have a chase truck, take the fuel money you'd spend on the car, and buy an open car trailer. When you get back home, you can sell it and recoup most, if not all of your investment in the trailer.

I have made that trip a few times, driving and flying . . . drove my 74 Duster360 one year, and then trailered my 70 300Hurst ragtop another year. Can't say I was ever really leary of having the car stolen. And on both driving trips, I had been able to meet up with mopar folks ! . . . Course this was 20 and 15 years ago now . . maybe things have changed ?!?! I never really thought of my cars as "high dollar", but yeah it would suck if they were vandalized or stolen . . . But I like to think if you take your usual precautions - one of the bar locks on the steering wheel (sure it only slows them down, but at least it is something). Maybe pull the coil wire, or take out the rotor ? Have a "flashing" LED inside the car, to give illusion of security system (or have a security system) . ..

I have always enjoyed traveling long distances to car shows, in my car . . . and as I say, can't say I was too worried about it getting stolen - more the parking lot fools that alway seem to gravitate to the car, no matter how far away you park. Last year, I did a 1600mile round trip from home, to Vancouver BC, then Seattle, Spokane and home . . . in my Sport Satellite - no issues at all - other than the usual "gawkers" on the interstate . . . .

Take precautions, put don't live in a bubble . . . enjoy the journey and the show !!!

Cheers

Mark

Maybe a option is to leave the car at the fairgrounds if you have transportation. I left my car there and I felt safe leaving it. Before they had the track I also camped at the fairgrounds and kept my car parked with me.

We attend the Mopar Nats every year, andlly get a room for the weekend even though its only a 2 hour drive from our house. A couple of years ago, 3 cars were stolen from the Hotel we were staying at. One of them was parked next to our Cuda. Never heard a sound, even though we were paying close attention . Cops thought the cars were pushed to a back part of the lot, then towed from there. Later at the show, we heard that the owners of the car had just retired and purchased it, but didn't have any insurance on it. Felt bad for them.
Maybe times have changed, but 30 or so years ago our club was going to attend a show just over the border from Niagra Falls. I contacted a club up there to get info on Hotels, and eventually they offered homes for us to stay in . I was skeptical at first, staying in peoples' homes we didn't know, but they insisted we weren't going to stay in hotels. It ended up being a really rewarding experience for us.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck!! Really admire what you are doing!! Larry.

If they "really" want to steal the car - they will - back a roll back flat deck up to it, hook a winch cable on, and its on the truck in less than 5min . . . and if anyone asks questions, they would just say that the owner was having trouble and it's been taken for repair . . .

We are doing the same thing (caravan) from CT but lucky for us, the trip is much closer, only about 4 hours in total. We will stop 2 times along the way and have a modern chase vehicle as well. Funny, these used to be our daily drivers Good luck. It is going to be a great 50th!

i have driven to shows as far away as okc from upstate new york. we usually stay in small towns and have never had a problem. nobody knows we are there so any iisues are not likely

Thank you so much Rhinodart, I may take you up on that. I remember people telling me about avoiding the toll roads back there, and that sounds like a winner to me. I know we are a long ways off, but all input is helpful, and for those who said to buy a trailer, I actually have an enclosed trailer that I was going to tow with my chase truck. I could trailer it, but I want the experience of driving it. When I was little my parents ordered a brand new 70 roadrunner in Moulin Rouge, and we took it on multiple trips from Washington to North Dakota. This trip would be a sort of homage to those times, which are some of my earliest memories. Thanks again, John